Machine for postmarking and canceling letters



W. H. BOWES.

MACHINE FOR POSTMARKING AND 'GANCELING LETTERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-7,1918.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 19I8. 1,399,288. Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

W. H. BOWES.

MACHINE FOR POSTMARKING' AND CAN GELING LETTERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 7,1918. 1,399,288. Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- W. H. BOWES.

MACHINE'FOR POSTMARKING AND CANCELING LETTERS.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 7, 1918. 1,399,288.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

- my? I PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. BOWES, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR POSTMARKING AND CANCELING LETTERS.

Application filed September 7, 1918.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, annin H. Bowns, a subjectof the King of Great Britain, residing at Greenwich, in the county ofFairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements 1n Machines for Postmarking and Canceling Letters; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in machines for canceling andpostmarlzing mail matter such as letters, cards, etc. and for markingany other similar articles; and its objects are to provide a machinewhich will be very simple in operation, easily regulated, and in whichthe path of travel of the matter from the feed to the delivery will bevery short.

The invention provides an easy free running hand or power operatedmachine with a minimum number of parts and practically having but onemember requiring adjustment under ordinary operative conditions.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of tieinvention and I will describe the same in detail, to enable others tocomprehend and use the invention, but I do not consiocr the inventionrestricted to the particular constructions of parts shown in thedrawings, as these, while the best and at present preferred form knownto me, may be varied within the scope of the invention, and I thereforerefer to the claims following the description for summaries of theessential and novel constructions and combinations of parts for which Idesire protection,

The machine as shown in brief comprise a feeding wheel or drum whichalso serves as an impression cylinder and is preferably mounted on afixed bearing and is therefore unyielding; with this drum cooperates acontinuously rotating printing member carry ing the desired printingsurfaces; such as canceling bars, and postmarking die; said printingmember is preferably mounted, together with its ink supply means, upon aswinging arm which is controlled by a spring to hold the printing memberyieldingly normal y in printing position. A letter stop is Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

Serial No. 253,066.

provided which is adapted to project across the path of the letter, andwhich is automatically controlled by a suitable cam so as to cause theletters to pass successively, and properly spaced, past the printer. Anendless belt runs around the. drum and drives the stacker and coactswith the printing member and other suitable devices to separate theletters vand move them past the printing member to the stacker.

A notable feature of this machine is the very compact arrangement of thefeeding, separating, and printing devices whereby all the principaloperations of the machine are performed within a very short space andwith a very short move of the letter from the feed to the delivery; andsuch compactness has been difiicult to obtain; other features are thenovel letter stop devices; and the novel arrangement and construction ofparts which insures that all parts of the feeding belt shall be usedequally for feed- 1ng purposes.

In the particular machine shown the mechanism is not article operated orcontrolled; but is all positively operated and timed, rendering itessentially dissimilar from other prior machines.

While the machine shown is primarily intended to be hand-operated, itcan also be successfully operated by power.

'In the description and claims I use the word letter as a descriptiveterm, intend ing thereby to include letters, cards, slips, sheets,papers, packages and other articles of such size and nature as may besafely operated upon by the machine. I

I also use words printing member as adescriptive term intending therebyto in clude a member carrying any desired kind of marking surface ormeans whereby a letter passing through the machine can be stamped,printed, perforated or otherwise marked or manipulated on its surfaceduring its passage through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view of the completemachine ready for operation, some parts thereof being partly brokenaway, and showmg a letter being printed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with some parts removed, showing the printingmember in non-printing position but ready to print.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through one side of thedrum, and showing the relation of the drum, belt, and printing member.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively vertical sectional views on lines 5-5 and6-6, Fig. 1.

The machine shown in the drawings, has a feed table 1 and a deliverytable 2, which are preferably side by side or parallel, but slightly,separated. The feed table has a stop 1 at one end adjacent the feedwheel against which the letters to be printed or stamped are fedparallel and at right angles to the feed table as indicated in Fig.1.

At one end of the feed and delivery tables is a feed drum 3, which ismounted on a ver tical shaft 1 suitably journaled or supported on themain bed plate 1 of the machine. Said drum is of such diameter as toafford an easy feeding arc at the point of feed and is preferablyprovided with a series of shallow peripheral grooves 3 opposite theprinting member to allow the printing sur-. faces or canceling bars onsuch member to enter these grooves during rotation of the printingmember if no letter is present. It also has a peripheral groove 3 abovegrooves 3 to receive and mask the feed belt l; and it also has a thirdperipheral groove 3 above groove 3 for the accommodation of the letterstop. The drum may be rotated in any suitable manner. As shown it isprovided with a handle 3" by which it can be manuallyrotated; but it maybe driven by a motor or power if desired.

Fastened to the drum within. the groove 3* at equidistant points arebuttons or projections 3 (three being shown) which are adapted to causethe overlying portions of the feed belt l to project outside of the masling groove 3".

A feed belt 4 passes partially around the drum within the groove 3' andthen around a pulley 4 on the shaft l of a stacker 4:, which maybe ofany suitable construction and is shown as arranged at the receiving endof the delivery table 2 and which can operate through openings in anupright slotted plate Q attached to the receiving end of the deliverytable 2 as usual. The belt at may be tightened by means of a roller 1 Lmounted on an adjustable support 14: secured to the frame of the machineby a bolt 14:".

The feed belt 4. is preferably formed of a leather backing with a rubberface, and should be of such total length, with relation to thecircumference of the drum 3.; that at each successive revolution of thedrum dif ferent portions of the belt come over and into contact with theprojections 3 in the groove 3" so that instead of the rubber surface ofthis belt wearing in the same spots die 5, and canceling bars 5, whichmay be removably attached to the member in any suitable manner. The dieand canceling bars are curved on arcs of a circle corresponding to thegreatest circumference of the member 5. Beneath the die and cancelingbars the member 5 has a segmental flange 5, which is preferably facedwith a leather or frictional surface 5 and co-acts with the belt tocontinue forwarding the letter after the die and thereon.

The lower end of the shaft 5*, on which the printing member 5 ismounted, is preferably connected by a universal-j oint member cancelingbars have ceased to print .77 to the hub of a small pinion 7 journaledon a stud 7 mounted on a supporting plate 1 attached to any convenientpart of the machine frame. Pinion'? meshes with a large gear 8 which iskeyed'to the lower end of the shaft 1 to which the drum 8 is attached,so that, through the described gearing, the member 5 carrying the die isrotated in proper time and relation to the drum.

The printing member 5 carrying the printing devices is yieldinglypressed toward the drum by suitable spring means; a spring 6 being shownengaging a lateral extension 6 of the arm 6; so that the printing membercan yield to accommodate the let ters of different thicknesses passingbetween the printing member and drum. On the up per end of member 5 orits shaft is mounted a cam-shaped piece 5'" which revolves with the headand controls the action of the letter stop orregulator.

The printing surfaces 5 and 5 during rotation ofv the printing memberenter the grooves in the drum 3, if'no letter is present, and are at notime in actual metallic contact with it; and this prevents any offset onthe drum and consequent offset imprint on the backs of the letters.

The letter stop as shown comprises a bent arm 9 which is pivoted upon astud 9' attached to an adjacent fixed support such as a plate or housing10 arranged intermediate the tables 1 and 2, adjacent the drum 3, andprotecting the printing member and stop mechanism. The inner end of thisarm 9 extends downwardly into the path of the cam and to the inner endof the arm and above the camv is attached a slidablc stop 9 which isshown as a slide guided in a grooved part 9 of the arm and normallyprojected outwardly, or toward the drum by means of a spring 9 which isarranged to project the end of the stop 9 into the groove 3 of the drumso that this stop. when in normal position as in Fig. 2, will preventthe passage of a letter on the feed table 1 past the drum and printer tothe delivery table 2.

The cam 5 forces the arm 9 back to the position shown in Fig. 2 afterthe printing has been eifected and holds it back until the printingmember is ready to again begin printing. Then when a letter comes intoposition for printing cam 5 releases arm 9 and the latter is swunginwardly by means of a spring 9 connected to the arm and to the oppositeside of the housing 10.

Nhen arm 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the stop 9 lies directlyacross the letter path, (see Fig. 2) remaining there until a projectionon the drum 3 causes the feed belt 4 to move a letter into printingposition, at which time the cam 5 releases the arm 9 and spring 9 swingsthe arm and stop inward and away from the letter path, permitting theletter to travel toward the delivery while nipped between the belt 4 andthe canceling and marking die, or printing surface of the printingmember and printing roll or drum. The arm 9 is returned to position bythe cam as the printing member rotates, but in case of a long letter thestop 9 is permitted to yield and lightly press against the side of theletter without deterring it, until the tail of the letter passes it,then the spring 9 throws the sliding stop into position across theletter path as in Fig. 2, where it remains and prevents the passage ofthe next letter until the printing member has about completed arevolution and is ready for another printing operation.

The stop is drawn away from the letter path by spring 9 when permittedby cam 5 but normally this cam holds arm 9 in such position that stop 9projects across the letter path. This stop corrects any inequalities inthe spacing or separation between the successive letters, and insuresthat the front edge of a letter shall not come into the printingposit-ion before the printing surfaces are ready to print. and thusinsures accurate similar impression on the letters or articles despitevariations in length thereof.

After the forward edge of a letter has passed beyond the printing pointthe stop 9 will lightly slide thereon and slip off the tail of theletter and spring across the letter path into the groove 3 when theletter passes it.

The feed buttons orprojections 3 on the drum successively cause the belt1- to bite the letters and bring them successively into printingposition at the proper time; but as to avoid or overcome slippage, dueto thickness, heaviness or slippery character of different letters. Ipreferably arrange the feed button; 3 so they will cause the belt 4- tomove the letter into position a little ahead of the die, but the stop 9holds the letter back until the printing surface on member 5 takesafii'm bite on the entering edge of the letter, which time cam 5releases the arm 9 and the sprin 9 causes thestop to move out of the andpermit the letter to travel forward through the machine.

In the machine shown in the drawings three feed buttons or projections 3are shown, so that at each rotation of the drum three letters will befed past the printing member;'and the gearing between the drum and theprinting member is such that the printing member will make threerevolutions to one of the drum, each are so timed that the cam 5releases the stop arm 9 as and when one of the projections 3 causes thebelt to engage a letter and move it forward to the printing point; theletter being then positively nipped first between the belt and theseparator and then between the printing surfaces and the drum; and afterthe printing the letter is carried forward by the action of the roller12 and the belt 4, and by the action of the surface 5 and of theprinting member and the drum.

The projections 3 are so far spaced apart around the periphery of thedrum as to feed in the largest letter upon which the machine is intendedto operate. Obviously the number of projections 23 employed can bevaried according to the circumference of the drum and the length of theletters to be printed; but the gearing between the drum and the printingmember should be so propor ioned that the printing member performs oneoperation or revolution for each projection 3 on the drum during eachrevolution of the drum.

The die 5 and canceling bars 5 may be inked in any suitable manner. Asshown they are supplied with ink by a felt roller 15 mounted on a studon one end of a lever 15 which is pivoted on an extension 6 of arm 6:and the other end of lever 15 can be adjustably fastened to theextension 6 by means of a nut or screw 15 this permits the ink roller tobe adjusted to or from the die and canceling bars and held in positionto contact therewith, with any desired degree of pressure as the member5 rotates.

The printing member, the controlling cam, and ink roller, are allpreferably mounted on the yielding arm 6, but as the printing member isdriven through a uni versal joint, said member can move back and forthto accommodate varied thicknesses of letters, and be firmly supportedand positively driven while capable of yielding relative to the drum.

The drum 3 and belt 4 perform the functions of feeding and timing theletters; and the drum also erforms the functions of an impressioncylinder and driving wheel.

The inward movement of the member 5 with canceling bars and die can belimited by a suitable stop 16 attached to bolt 16 tapped through a stud16 on the frame beneath the drum.

A separator rubber 11 may be mounted in the housing 10 at the sideadjacent the feed table 1, and projects beyond the inner end of thehousing toward the periphery of the drum 3 and against the belt 4. Thisseparator may be adjustably fastened by a clamp plate 11 and screw l1 asshown.

The delivery table .2 may be provided with an article support or stackerslide 2 of any desired construction; and plate 2 may have a guide finger2 the end of which projects into groove 3 and directs the articles ontothe delivery table.

An auxiliary idler roller 12 is preferably provided intermediate themember 5 and the stacker. As shown this roller is supported on a slide12 mounted on the side of the housing 10 adjacent the delivery table;and the said slide and roller are pressed inward toward the drum 3, soas to hold the roller yieldingly in contact with the belt 4, orinterposed letter, by means of a spring 12.

Operation.

The parts are shown in normal position in Fig. 2 with the stop 9projecting into the groove of the drum across the path of the letter Lwhich it has arrested. In this figure one of the projections 3 is shownas just ready to engage a letter and the cam 5 is just ready to releasethe arm 9. Upon the further rotation of the drum. cam 5 releases the arm9 and the spring 9 swings said'arm 9 so as tomove stop 9 out of the pathof the letter which is then nipped between the conceling bars orprinting surface 5 on the printing member 5 and the drum, as showninFig. l and the forward edge of the letter is also nipped between thebelt 4: and the roller 12.

By the time the printing member has almost made one complete revolutionthe letter has passed the printing point and the cam 5 returns the arm 9to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the stop 9 springs to the positionshown in Fig. 2, and prevents the next letter entering between the drumand the printing member until cam 5' again releases the arm 9.

The stop 9 is positively held in position to arrest a letter until thearm 9 is released by the cam 5 and this cam being attached and rotatingwith the printing member does not release the stop until the printingmember is ready to begin-another printing operation; and only one letteris permitted to pass between the printing member and the drum for eachrotation of the printing member.

Each letter has to travel only slightly more than its length from thefeed to the delivery and it moves in a practically straight line fromthe feed table to the delivery table in front of the stacker; and is notbent or deflected around the periphery of the drum. This short straighttravel greatly facilitates the handling of the letters, and keeps themin better condition; and greatly accelerates the speed of the ma chine;and at the same time the feed and delivery are most convenientlyaccessible to the operator.

In this machine the point of separation of the letters, point ofstoppage of the letters preparatory to printing and point of impressionor printing contact are all approximately within less than one inch,with the result that the successive presentation of the letters and theprinting or postmarking on the successive letters is more uniform andaccurate. Where the separation is made at a point several inches awayfrom the stop or printer it frequently happens that the letters thatvarv in thickness and texture arrive at the printing position in varioustimes instead of at uniform times, with the result that thick lettersmight be only partially impressed because of their failure to arrive ontime at the printing point, while thin letters would receive the fullproper impression. My separator wiper co-acts with the moving feed beltor roller at a point very close to the stop, see Fig. 2. The letter isstopped almost as soon as it is separated and is advanced immediatelyand coincident with the beginning of the printing operation and eachletter, whether thick or thin, receives the full proper stamp orimpression.

What I claim is: i

1. In combination, means for feeding a letter; means for printing theletter;- a stop adapted to prevent the passage of another letter pastthe printing means until the preceding letter has passed and theprinting means is readyto again operate; gearing between the feedingmeans and the printing means whereby the latter is caused to make onerotation or operation during the time each letter should be fedtherepast; and a cam operating in unison with the printing means,whereby said stop is moved into position for'eflt'ective operationduring the printing operation on a letter and released after theprinting operation; and means for withdrawing the stop to permit theforwarding of the next letter to the printing means when the latter isready to be in another operation.

2. n a machine of the character described, a drum, a feed belt coactingwith the drum, and projections on the drum adapted to cause thecontiguous portions of the belt when engaged by said projections toproject, the projections engaging ditt'erent portions of the feed beltat successive operations, substantially. as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, a drum having a peripheralgroove, a feed belt engaging in said groove and masked thereby, andprojections in said groove adapted to cause the contiguous portions ofthe belt when engaged by said projections to project beyond theperiphery of the drum, the projections engaging different portions ofthe feed belt at successive operations.

4;. In a machine of the character described, a drum, and a feed beltco-acting with the drum, projections on the drum adapted to cause thecontiguous portions of the belt when engaged by said projections toproject beyond the periphery of the drum, the projections engagingdifferent portions of the feed belt at successive operations; incombination with a printing member beside the drum, and gearing betweenthe printing member and the drum whereby the' printing member is causedto make one revolution for each projection on the drum during therevolution of the drum.

5. In a machine of the character described, a drum having a peripheralgroove, a feed belt engaging in said groove and masked thereby, 'andprojections in said groove adapted to cause the contiguous por tions ofthe belt when engaged by said projections to project beyond theperiphery of the drum, the projections engaging different portions ofthe feed belt at succes sive operations; in combination with a printingmember beside the drum and gearing between the printing member and thedrum whereby the printing member is caused to make one revolution foreach projection on the drum duringthe revolution of the drum.

6. In combination a rotatable drum, a printing member beside andco-acting with the drum, gearing between the drum and printing member, aletter stop adjacent the printing member, mechanically actuated meansfor releasing said stop at the beginning of a printing operation andreturn ing the stop to normal position after the printing; said stopbeing adapted to arrest the passage of a letter until a preceding letterhas passed the printing latter is ready to begin another printingoperation, and a yieldable slidable member connected with said stop topermit the passage of extra long letters, substantially as described.

member and the 7 In combination a rotatable drum, a belt co-acting withsaid drum, and spaced projections on the drum for causing said belt tosuccessively engage a letter to be printed, the projectionsengagingdifferent portions of the feed belt at successive operations, a printingmember beside and co acting with the drum, and gearing between the drumand printing member whereby the latter is causedto operate once for eachprojection on the drum; a stop adjacent the printing member;mechanically actuated means for releasing said stop at the beginning ofa printing operation and thereafter positively returning the stop tonormal position; said stop being adapted to arrest the passage of aletter until a preceding letter has passed the printing member and thelatter is ready to begin another printing operation.

8. In combination a rotatable drum, a belt co-acting with said drum,spaced projections on the drum for causing said belt to successivelyengage a letter to be printed upon, the projections engaging differentportions of the feed belt at successive operations, a printing memberbeside and co-acting with the. drum, and gearing between the drum andprinting member whereby the latter is caused to make one operation foreach projection on the drum; with a stop arm adjacent the printingmember, mechanically actuated means for releasing said arm at thebeginning of a printing operation and returning the arm to normalposition; and a yieldable letter stop connected with said arm adapted toarrest the passage of a letter until a preceding letter has passed theprinting member and the latter is ready to begin another printingoperation.

9. In a machine of the character de scribed, a drum, a feed beltco-acting with the drum, and a printing member beside the drum, andgearing between the printing member and the drum, a letter stop adjacentthe printing member adapted to prevent a letter entering between theprinting member and the drum, mechanically actuated means whereby. thestop is withdrawn when the printing member is ready to beginanimpression, and thereafter returned to arresting position, and ayieldable slidable member connected with said stop to permit the passageof extra long letters, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the character described, a drum having a peripheralgroove, a feed belt engaging said groove, projections in said grooveadapted to cause the contiguous portions of the belt to project, theprojections engaging diflerent portions of the feed belt at successiveoperations; in combination with a printing member beside the drum, agearing between the printing member and the drum whereby the printingmember is caused to make one revolution for each pro] ection on the drumduring the revolution of the drum; a letter stop adjacent the printingmember adapted to prevent a letter entering between the printing memberand the drum and mechanlcally actuated means whereby the stop isreleased when the printing member is ready to make an impression andwhereby the stop is returned to arresting position.

11. In a machine of the character described, a feed and impression drum,a feed belt co-acting with the drum, and projections on the drum adaptedto cause the con tiguous portions of the belt to project beyond theperiphery thereof, the projections engaging different portions of thefeed belt at successive operations; in combination with a printingmember beside the drum; gearing between the printing member and the drumwhereby the printing member is caused to make one revolution for eachprojection on the drum during each revolution of the' drum; a yieldableletter stop adjacent the printing member adapted to prevent a letterentering between the printing member and the drum, means whereby thestop is withdrawn when the printing member is ready to begin animpression and a cam whereby the stop is returned to arresting position.

12. In a machine of the character described, a feed and impression drumhaving a peripheral groove, a feed belt operating in said groove andmasked thereby, and

projections in said groove adapted to cause the contiguous portions ofthe belt to project beyond the periphery of the drum, the projectionsengaging different portions of the feed belt at successive operations;in

combination with a printing member beside .jthe drum, gearing betweenthe printing member and the drum whereby the printing member is causedto make one revolution for each projection on the drum during therevolution of the drum; a yieldable letter stop adjacent the printing.member adapted .to prevent a letter entering between the printing memberand the drum, means whereby the stop is released when the printingmember is ready to make an impression and a cam'whereby the stop isreturned to arrested position, substantially as described.

13. In combination, side by side feed and delivery tables; the dischargeend of the delivery table being in line with the receiving end of thefeed table and: the printing a point so located that letters may be fedin a straight line from the feed to the delivery table pastthe printingpoint; printing? and impression members on opposite sides of the line oftravel of the letter, and a mechanically actuated stop for preventingthe passage of a letter past the printing mechanism it until the latteris ready to begin a-printing operation, with a feed belt. extending fromthe feed table past the printer to the; delivery table and adapted tomove the letters from the feed} table past the printer to the delivery,substantially as described.

l4. In a machine of the character described the combinationof means fornioving a letter, past the printing point, and a printing memberadjacent said point; with a stop adjacent the printing member; meansactuated by said printing member for releasing said stop, at thebeginning of a printing operation and thereafter returning the stop tonormal position; said stop being adapted to arrest the passage of aletter until a preceding letter has passed the printing member and thelatter is ready to begini another printing operation.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of; meansfor feeding a letter past the printing point; a printing member adjacentsaid point; and means for rotating the printing member in timed relationwith the feeding means; with a stop adjacent the printing member, meansactuated by said printing member for releasing said stop at thebeginning of a printing operation and returning the stop 'to normalposition; said stop being adapted to arrest the passage of a letteruntil a pre ceding letter has passed the printing member and the latteris ready to begin another printing operation.

16. In a mach'ne of the, character described the combination of meansfor feed ing a letter past the printing point, a printing member.adjacent said point; and means for rotating the printing member in timedrelation with the feeding means; with a stop arm adjacent the printingmember, cam means for releasing said arm at the beginning of a printingoperation and positively returning the arm? to normal position; and ayieldable letter stop connected with said arm adapted to arrest thepassage of a letter until a preceding letter has passed the printingmember and the latter is ready to begin another printing operation.

17. In, a machine of the character; described the combination of meansfor feeding a letter past the printing point, a printing memberadjacent; said point; means. for

inking the printing member, with a stop arm adjacent the printingmember. cam

to arrest the passage of a letter until a preceding letter has passedthe printing'member and the latter is ready to begln another printingoperation.

18.In combination feeding and impression means, a printing membercooperating with the impression means, a swingable stop for arrestingtie letters prior to -printin and a cam connected with said printingmember whereby said stop is moved into position for eiiective operationduring the printing operation on a letter and released after theprinting operation; and means for withdrawing the stop to permit theforwarding or" the next letter to the printing means when the latter isready to begin another operation; with a yieldable support carrying saidprinting member and cam whereby said printing member is yieldablymovable as unit toward or "from the printing point to accommodateletters of varying thickness.

19.111 a machine of the character described a rotatable feed andimpression drum, a feed belt coacting with said drum, a printing membercooperating with the drum, and gearing for positively actuating saidprinting member from the drum, a stop for arresting the letters prior toprinting, and a cam connected with said printing member whereby saidstop is moved into posit-ion for effective operation during the printingoperation on a letter and released after the printing operation; andmeans for withdrawing the stop to permit the forwarding of the nextletter to the printing means when the latter is ready to begin anotheroperation; with a yieldable support carrying said printing memberwhereby it is yieldably movable as a unit toward or from the printingpoint to accommodate letters of varying thickness.

20. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable feed andimpression drum; a feed belt co-acting with said drum; a. printingmember cooperating with the drum; and gearing for positively actuatingsaid printing member from the drum, with a stop for arresting theletters prior to printing; a cam connected with said printing memberwhereby said stop is moved into position for efi'ective operation duringthe printing operation on a letter and released after the printingoperation; and means tor withdrawing the stop to permit the forwardingof the next letter to the printing means when the latter is ready tobegin another operation; yieldable means for inking the printing member;a yieldable pivoted support carrying =said printing member; whereby itis yieldably movable as a unit toward or from the printing point toaccommodate letters of varying thickness.

21. In combination a rotatable drum; a printing member beside andcoacting with the drum, a feed belt operated by the drum and adapted tomove letters from the feed part of the printing member to the delivery;a letter stop adjacent the printing member; means for releasing saidstop at the begin ning of a printing operation and returning the stop tonormal position after printing; and a wiper separator co-acting with thebelt, the points of separating, stopping and printing being closelyadjacent, said wiper being adapted to successively separate the letters,and said stop being adapted to arrest the passage of each letter untilthe preceding letter has passed the printing memher and the latter isready to begin another printing operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

WALTER H. BOWES.

